What if Romeo and Juliet got a second chance? R & J & Z starts with Act V of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet and keeps going, as the famous lovers navigate a world in which death isn’t necessarily the end. Set against the historical backdrop of Verona’s plague, this new verse play throws old and new characters together over the course of an apocalyptic and action-packed 24 hours. Equally inspired by Shakespeare and modern zombie films, R & J & Z pushes the boundaries of theatrical humor and horror.

The development of R & J & Z was supported by Opera House Arts in Stonington, Maine through a series of residencies. The play premiered there in the summer of 2014, where it played to sold-out houses and and was performed in rep with Romeo and Juliet.